Bunting happy to play through the pain for King’s Lynn Town as Rainworth Miners Welfare arrive

Captain Richard Bunting will continue to play through the pain barrier as King’s Lynn Town look to stretch their unbeaten run today.

The Linnets skipper has been carrying a groin problem for most of the season but has still managed to make 31 appearances for Gary Setchell’s high-fliers. The 29-year-old is likely to feature again against Rainworth Miners Welfare this afternoon as Lynn, who haven’t lost in the league for two months, look to make it five Evo-Stik Division One South matches without defeat.

With an enforced rest coming up against Gresley and Sheffield in the next fortnight – thanks to Bunting being handed a two-game suspension for picking up his second red card of the season at Northwich Victoria – Setchell says his leader will carry on putting his body on the line for the Linnets.

He said: “Bunts is having an operation on his groin in May but he’s been playing through the pain barrier for the last seven months.

“If you took his leg off and put it on back to front he would still go out and play. That’s the type of character he is. He wants to be out there playing every single week.

“He never moans and I never have to ring him, if I’ve taken him off, to ask if he’s able to play. He just gets on with it. He’ll just have to play through it and starting next Saturday he gets two games off through suspension so he’ll get a little rest then anyway.”

Defender Ryan Fryatt is available to make his return against the mid-table Wrens at The Walks, as is Setchell, after both completed their respective suspensions in midweek.

The Linnets boss was banished to the stands for his side’s last two games and admits he could understand supporters’ frustrations about a drab display during the first half of Lynn’s 5-2 home win over Lincoln United on Saturday.

Setchell, whose side were 1-0 down at the break, said: “Sometimes we moan about what supporters shout down from the stands but I was one of them the other night and it was hard sitting up there. I could only affect things by phone but they can’t affect anything so it must be very difficult.

“I sat upstairs and I heard comments that Lynn are a second-half team. Nobody was worried too much about us being behind. But I’m still delighted to be back on the touchline though. As bad as we were first-half is as good as we were in the second. I know it’s getting boring saying it but the lads have got unbelievable team spirit. We might not have the most technically-gifted players in the world but ours will give plenty of blood, sweat and tears for the cause.”

Lynn, fourth, look certain to finish in the play-off positions as they have a number of games in hand on the sides around them.

They sit seven places above Rainworth in the table and drew 2-2 in the reverse fixture earlier this season. The Wrens will look a very different outfit to the one that played in October though with boss Kevin Gee having handed debuts to four players during their 0-0 draw at Newcastle Town on Saturday.

Midfielder Jonathan Williams, defender Sam Purcicoe, forward Jermain Hollis and goalkeeper Scott Low have all arrived on loan and Gee was last night still looking to add two strikers to his squad ahead of their trip to Norfolk.

One player, ex-Linnet Mark Camm who made more than 200 appearances, for the now-defunct King’s Lynn, could miss out due to a hamstring problem.

Setchell, who used to play with the fans’ favourite, said: “Cammy’s a good lad. Anyone who plays for one club for more than five-and-a-half-years deserves all the plaudits they get. He might not play tomorrow but I’m sure he’ll get a great reception if he does. He’s been a great servant for King’s Lynn over the years.”

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